where have the photographers gone?

[rscheffler]

Is there any demand for a 'visionary photographer'?

Yes, of course.

Perhaps the question is rather: Who will pay such a photographer a viable rate and with usage terms respectful of the photographer's longterm interests?

Control over information and monetization of its distribution is the goal of all the big players. In the realm of photography, you have the likes of Getty cranking out as much volume as possible. For them, it's irrelevant how many photographers/contributors feed their collections, so long as the numbers grow. They still take their cut of the action from the gross sales, which percentage-wise has constantly crept higher and higher in their favor, while the photographer masses divvy up their shrinking share into much smaller slices.

It explains the $12 Syria photo.

Perhaps time is starting to run out for Getty, saddled by a $2.46B debt. Yes - BILLION.

 

[NY_Dan]

I asked the psychic to read my palm -- she said I had a short photography lifeline.

Then I read her palm, and I could tell she was a smoker.

 

[Out to Lunch]

This sad story has been told many times by many photographers. I'd be more interested in stories of photographers who are finding their way in this new market and commercial landscape.

 

[FrankS]

Not trying to hijack this Thread, just saw this photo
This is One of my Favorite shots of yours Dan .. just So Good, Subline !

+ 1

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

It is about the same with many artists in their respective fields. Disappointed writers have their bubble burst when their dreams of big advances for their book get whittled down to low priced penny or free eBooks...if they are lucky.

Classical musicians find themselves facing hundreds of other applicants if per chance an opening on a symphony is vacant. They are all great musicians applying for the one position. But if one makes the smallest mistake on audition...they are out.

Popular musicians are complaining how they get nothing in royalties nowadays with all the sharing of music online. So it is not just photogs having a hard time.

 

[noisycheese]

A must read for any new editorial photographers/photojournalists/enthusiast.

I once received $12, after agency cut, for a half page in one of the very big names in the US. The image was taken in Northern Syria after a night of being shelled by mortars. I fired said agency about 1 week later.

https://medium.com/@kennethjarecke/dumb-photos-for-dumb-people-2821a8f6b3a

What?? You mean you weren't grateful to be paid $12 for risking your life in a war zone?? Good Gawdamighty, some people are SO self-centered and greedy!! 😛

From the article in the link -

...In an industry that’s already decided that good enough is good enough...

More like half-assed is good enough.

And -

...The DoP/photogralher relationship was once symbiotic. I'll give you money and access, you give me amazing photographs, we'll publish them and everyone will see how brilliant we both are.


Now the relationship is one sided and abusive. Today the DoP’s (or their picture editors) pitch goes something like this, I’ll give you a little bit of money (or none), you’ll deliver exactly what I want and the pictures you make will belong to me. Take it or leave it, but know there are plenty of people queued up to take your place...

Hopefully the greed of these agencies will cause the agencies to collapse.



It is unfortunate that photographers choose to let themselves be exploited and abused, but the truth is that no one holds a gun to their head; they agree to being exploited and abused by greedy, immoral agencies.



Individual persons who abuse, exploit and steal from people are referred to as psychopaths. Corporations who abuse, exploit and steal from people supposedly do it "for the good of the company" which somehow in their minds makes it okay; it makes it good business.


It is not good business.

 

[pakeha]

I am not shocked that someone thought it was just fine to pay out $12.00.
Seems often that the moral compass is so far out of whack that you start looking at other cultures in a completely different light.

 

[JP Owens]

As someone whose income has been affected by this progressive devaluation of photography, I do have a dog in the hunt. The reality, though, is that nothing is going to reverse the trend. Once the demons are freed from Pandora's box, they aren't going to go back in.

The marginal value of everything in a capitalistic system, including labor, eventually reaches zero. The speed of technological advance simply accelerates that trend. As that happens, it pushes all the wealth to the top. And the ones with the wealth have the power to maintain that position once they hold it. Until it collapses from its own weight.

In the meantime, a lot of folks suffer. Not only photographers.

Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[leicapixie]

The Media holds the power.
The belief we have free press and will are a dream.
I have an antennae for receiving my TV, no cable.
BBC,CTV.ca,PBS-NY,German and Japanese News feeds..
The news broadcasts are IDENTICAL.
The same faceless, men in black, give details, from a "source" CIA ?.

My photography was always balanced by another profession.
I made more money in photography doing weddings, family gatherings and publicity photography, the ever a Front Page photo!
I waited sometimes 17 wks after publication, minus taxes or whatever..
Only when i approached the Photo Editor of the top South African newspaper,
and arranged payment from their "petty cash"" did the long wait to payment cease.
A few, a very few make a steady living, but "big" names are no guarantee.
Magnum and many others do "workshops" for added money.
The greed of the cretins in big companies results in new areas on the web.
Explore those, have a good employment or better your own company.

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

perhaps the question should be reframed? where have all the photographers gone? literally. what are they doing now? where is the work appearing? how are they presenting?

Pandering to the 1%? (tongue only halfway planted in cheek)

 

[elmarman]

In my town of Brentwood, Essex , England the last 'Studio Photographer' has gone out of business, none of the local newspapers will pay for photos any more, the Chief Photographer and a Girl Photographer of the Brentwood Gazette lost their jobs just over a year ago -- now the Managing Director held a meeting an NO MORE 'Freelance' Work is to be given out -- I wondered why it had stopped -- the last job I got was JULY last year. Good job I have the British Government Pension now as all the newspapers get FREE hand-out photos and just have three 'Staffers' left to cover a huge area.

 

[bobbyrab]

It's the downside of the internet. Newspaper and magazine sales have been slashed so there are no budgets.
As a social photographer there are so many more advertising options available, but they've all become diluted as a result, add to this a tidal wave of new people entering the market, either young enthusiasts, or photographers pushed from editorial, and it makes for a very crowded market.
it's difficult to know which way to go, Emraphoto, you say the crafty folk diversified the revenue stream, but into what?
The smart move was probably the photographers that built a web presence and are trying to create businesses with paid teaching either with download lessons, hosting workshops or paid sponsors on their sites. it all looks rather bleak to be honest, I think inventive marketing is a must now, and much more important than your talent as a photographer.
Who could have seen the consequences of the internet to both empower our culture whilst at the same time dumb it down.

 

[goamules]

It's not just "corporations" and "media" that won't pay for photography, the pubic won't either. Pro wedding photographers are replaced by the bride's friend. Accident documentary replaced by the passerby with a cell phone. Art photography replaced by cheap prints at kiosks, or free internet captures. Photography clubs where you had to pay dues and drive to the meetings, are replaced by free Internet forums (like RFF).

The problem is society has changed, mostly due to the "freeness" of the Internet, and the "productivity" increases of technology ("...computers make doing ANYTHING almost FREE!..."). Today, people want two things only: They want whatever they want FREE. And they want it NOW. I call it the "Gimmie Now" generation. They carry those attitudes to their work and businesses. "I get everything I want for FREE on the internet, why should I PAY YOU for anything?!" It's why digital replaced film - a digital picture is FREE! No film or development costs. Are you starting to get it? Technology changed society.

So there you have it, photographers have become a niche hobby, because the "work" is done for free...somehow...by suckers.

 

[TennesseJones]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing.

Fees, royalties everything seems to be under continous assault in the creative world at the moment.

Soon making stuff will just be for the rich kids. And we will all be poorer.

Whatever one's view of the market I think we can all agree if someone's trying to mortar you to death and you still get the shot taken and out there to the world you deserve more than $12...

A must read for any new editorial photographers/photojournalists/enthusiast.

I once received $12, after agency cut, for a half page in one of the very big names in the US. The image was taken in Northern Syria after a night of being shelled by mortars. I fired said agency about 1 week later.

https://medium.com/@kennethjarecke/dumb-photos-for-dumb-people-2821a8f6b3a

 

[kbg32]

I wish I had a dollar for all the calls and emails I get to use my images for free to illustrate someone's article or pod cast.. After all, they say, "It's free exposure. You never know what can happen if you let us use your image."

Yes I do... more calls to use my images for free.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

The demise of a lot of professions is all related to greed.

No, mostly the demise of professions is related to technology, which is constantly changing, and to human nature, which has never changed.

Do you shop for the lowest price when you buy your cameras and lenses?

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

I'm not sure what that means. Pandering to the 1%?

Most of the folks I know have very interest in the 1% (as I understand it).

Most are already quite far along in diversifying the revenue stream.

This was a rather off-the-cuff allusion to those photographers who have decided that the "fine art" market is "the" place to be. A shrewd decision on their part. This was not aimed at the p.j. per se.

 

[flagism]

I asked the psychic to read my palm -- she said I had a short photography lifeline.

Then I read her palm, and I could tell she was a smoker.

Great shot, NY_Dan. Did you ask her to wave at you or did she do this naturally? Works perfectly!🙂 Any tech details you could share on it?

Thanks,

Lewis

 

[Scheelings]

This sad story has been told many times by many photographers. I'd be more interested in stories of photographers who are finding their way in this new market and commercial landscape.

I'm only an amateur, however this is something that has interested me and I think that one area which can be tapped is by combining photography with your local knowledge.

Marsel Van Oosten has managed to combine his love of photography, with his depth of knowledge for wildlife. He's an excellent wildlife photographer in his own right, but he's managed to develop a business where he takes a slice off the safari market for those that want to focus on the photography aspect of it and then organises the whole trip for what looks like seriously big bucks. He probably also takes a slice from everybody but manages to obtain group discounts.

I don't see why more photographers couldn't do something similar - underwater photography 'safari' in the red sea for example....

 

[Scheelings]

So there you have it, photographers have become a niche hobby, because the "work" is done for free...somehow...by suckers.

There are many other jobs just like that - they're the jobs that everybody wants to do - and if the market can't differentiate a photograph taken by an expert and a photograph taken by an amateur then photography is like music and art destined for the privileged (those that don't need it), the poor (those that chose it) and the 0.001% (the greats).